Suitcase with magnetic display compartment

ABSTRACT

A customizable travel case is disclosed having a compartment for displaying identifying information or decoration on the outside of the travel case. The display compartment has a transparent cover that is capable of opening and closing so that identifying information or decoration can be inserted and displayed without having to open the travel case. The cover of the display compartment is held in a closed position by the use of magnets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for customizing luggage. In particular, this invention relates to luggage having a compartment for displaying decoration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Suitcases, trunks, boxes, bags, and similar travel cases having decorative coverings are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,558 by Carey et al. is directed to a purse having an interchangeable decorative covering. U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,837 by Marconi is directed to a carrying case with interchangeable side panels releasably attachable to the outside of the case. U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,318 by Pinti is directed to a purse with a rear panel made of a dry erasable material on which a user can draw a design that can be modified or erased or otherwise changed or altered. U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,485 by Sartena is directed to a handbag having a side wall formed of a transparent panel which can be selectively exposed to permit facilitated viewing of items contained therein. U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,302 by Godshaw et al. is directed to a luggage having an outside face made from a clear plastic material covered by a removable opaque flap. U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,778 by Duncanson et al. is directed to a luggage with modular construction permitting personalization by interchangeable appearance covers. U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,730 by Whiting et al. is directed to a purse with interchangeable decorative liners. U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,882 to Cazes is directed to a handbag with a removable purse located within a recessed side panel. United States Patent Application Pub. No. 20130306206 to Quinnan et al. is directed to a handbag with interchangeable covers, which can accept customizable outer panels that change the aesthetic appearance of the base bag and can be fastened with magnets. U.S. Design Pat. No. D639,057 by Presman et al. is directed to a trolley case with a display frame.

However, these and other similar suitcases and bags do not provide a means for their customization as disclosed and claimed by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suitcase that can be customized with decoration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitcase with a compartment for displaying decoration that can be readily changed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitcase with a compartment for displaying decoration that can be accessed without opening the suitcase.

It is an object of the invention to provide a suitcase with a means for displaying decoration that can be identified from a distance.

In accordance with the objectives of the invention, a system for customizing a suitcase is disclosed having a display compartment. The compartment is a case comprised of a recessed base formed on an exterior surface of the suitcase, with a transparent cover. The transparent cover is hingedly connected to the recessed base such that it is capable of opening and closing. The recessed base has at least one magnet or a magnetic material that attracts to at least one corresponding magnet or magnetic material in the cover so that the cover can be secured to the recessed base in a closed position by magnetic force.

The suitcase can be customized by inserting a decorative sheet, such as a photograph, into the display compartment. In this way the suitcase can be customized by changing the decoration in the display compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a suitcase according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the display compartment with the cover in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a view of the display compartment with the cover in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a suitcase 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a shell 10. The shell 10 can be made of a soft or hard material. Suitcases having shells made of vinyl, plastic, aluminum, aluminum alloy, polycarbonate or other materials are known. The shape, size and material of suitcase 1 do not limit the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, the shell 10 is comprised of a rear panel 12, side panels 14, a bottom panel 16, a top panel 18, and a front panel 20. The suitcase 1 typically has rollers or wheels 22 and a pull handle 26 that is retractable and extendable. The rollers or wheels 22 and the pull handle 26 can be configured in different configurations without limiting the invention.

The shell 10 has a compartment 28 on an exterior surface for displaying a decorative sheet. The compartment 28 can be located at any location on shell 10, but preferably on the front panel 20, or the largest, unobstructed surface of suitcase 1 for best displaying the decorative sheet.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the compartment 28 is comprised of a base 30 and a transparent cover 32 connected to the base 30. The cover 32 is hingedly connected to the base 30 such that it is capable of opening and closing as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cover 32 is secured to the base 30 in a closed position by magnets 34. The magnets 34 can be located either in base 30 or in cover 32, or both.

In a preferred embodiment, the compartment 28 has a gap 36 between base 30 and cover 32 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such that a user can insert a finger into the gap 36 to open cover 32.

The suitcase 1 can be customized by opening cover 32 to insert a decorative sheet under the transparent cover 32. In this way the suitcase 1 can be customized by changing the decorative sheet in the compartment 28 without opening suitcase 1.

While the foregoing describes the present invention in relation to the drawings and embodiments, it is to be understood that the description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the drawings or embodiments described herein. To the contrary, the description is intended to cover all alternative modifications and equivalents that may be included in the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A system for customizing a travel case comprising: a display compartment formed on an exterior surface of said travel case, said display compartment having: a recessed base; a cover connected to said recessed base; wherein said cover is secured in a closed position to said recessed base with magnets.
 2. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein said cover is transparent.
 3. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein said cover is substantially flush with said exterior surface of said travel case.
 4. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein said cover is hingedly connected to said base such that said cover can be opened and closed for receiving an insert for display without having to open said travel case.
 5. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 4, wherein said recessed base has a magnet for attracting to said cover.
 6. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 5, wherein said cover has a magnet for attracting to said recessed base.
 7. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein said display compartment has a gap between said recessed base and said cover for inserting a finger to open said cover.
 8. A system for customizing a travel case comprising: a compartment formed on an exterior surface of said travel case, said compartment comprising: a recessed base containing a magnetic material; a transparent cover connected to said recessed base that is capable of opening and closing, said transparent cover containing a magnetic material that attracts to said magnetic material in said recessed base; wherein said travel case can be customized by changing a display held in said compartment.
 9. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein said transparent cover fits flush in said recess.
 10. A travel case comprising: a front panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel, and side panels; a recess formed in said front panel; a cover covering said recess; and, at least one magnet for securing cover to said recess in a releasable manner. 